James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024
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@Horace said in James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024:
Donald Trump has a good chance of being regarded as one of the most important and influential humans in the history of humans. Of course that history has yet to be written, but there's a reasonable chance.
This seems to be it's own form of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
His last term, historically, wasn't particularly notable except for the pandemic and its effects, which were all negative, and his attempt to steal the 2020 election.
We got a bog-standard GOP tax cut. Three judges from the FedSoc list that any GOP president would have selected from (if there's a Justice hero for the GOP it was McConnell). Yeah we had good growth for a while, until we didn't. But that happens under most presidents. Yeah he tinkered with regulations, but many others have (not least Jimmy Carter). And yeah you could find a list of other things he did, but none are propelling him to Rushmore.
Perhaps his most notable achievement, for which I'm already grateful to see in its green shoots, is to be the catalyst for reform of the Democratic Party.
@jon-nyc said in James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024:
@Horace said in James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024:
Donald Trump has a good chance of being regarded as one of the most important and influential humans in the history of humans. Of course that history has yet to be written, but there's a reasonable chance.
This seems to be it's own form of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
His last term, historically, wasn't particularly notable except for the pandemic and its effects, which were all negative, and his attempt to steal the 2020 election.
We got a bog-standard GOP tax cut. Three judges from the FedSoc list that any GOP president would have selected from (if there's a Justice hero in the GOP it was McConnell). Yeah we had good growth for a while, until we didn't. But that happens under most presidents. Yeah he tinkered with regulations, but many others have (not least Jimmy Carter). And yeah you could find a list of other things he did, but none are propelling him to Rushmore.
Perhaps his most notable achievement, for which I'm already grateful to see in its green shoots, is to be the catalyst for reform of the Democratic Party.
I just find it amusing that our resident presidential historian has spent his adulthood hating the most important and influential president of your lifetime. Your cognitive processes never got past orange man bad. All that preparation, and you couldn't get past orange man bad.
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He was the first to use social media to go around institutional gatekeepers that would have prevented him from getting anywhere near the nomination, let alone the presidency. And he used it, for good or for ill, throughout his presidency. So yeah, that’s historic. Like FDR with the radio.
But that’s more about the tech than the man. Though first mover gets bragging rights too.
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Yes, he is the president that was allowed for by the internet. By the massive educational power of the internet. All of the asses exposed of all of the monoparty elites, and the world figured it out, and they elected Trump. I'm sure it's because of all the misinformation and disinformation, rather than reality getting exposed.
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Here’s a ChatGPT summary
Martin Gurri’s book, “The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium”, explores the profound impact of the digital information explosion on society, politics, and authority structures. Gurri, a former CIA analyst, argues that the advent of the internet and social media has upended traditional hierarchies of power by democratizing information and giving the public unprecedented tools to challenge institutions.
Key Themes and Arguments:
1. The Information Tsunami:
Gurri describes how the internet has unleashed a “tsunami” of information, overwhelming traditional gatekeepers like governments, media, and corporations. This abundance of information erodes trust in these institutions by exposing their flaws and contradictions.
2. The Revolt of the Public:
Empowered by digital tools, ordinary people can now organize, communicate, and express dissent on a massive scale. Movements like the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, and Brexit are examples of how the public uses this power to challenge authority.
3. Crisis of Authority:
Institutions built for the industrial age struggle to adapt to this new reality. They are designed to control the flow of information, but in the digital era, their authority is undermined by transparency and the public’s growing skepticism.
4. Anti-Establishment Sentiments:
Gurri notes that the public’s revolt is often defined by what it opposes rather than what it supports. These movements are characterized by their rejection of elites, institutions, and traditional hierarchies, but they rarely offer constructive alternatives.
5. Polarization and Fragmentation:
The digital age has not only democratized information but also fragmented it, creating echo chambers and amplifying ideological divisions. This contributes to a more chaotic and unpredictable public sphere.
6. Future of Governance:
Gurri warns that the current trajectory could lead to further instability unless institutions evolve to embrace transparency and engage meaningfully with the public. He calls for humility and adaptability from elites in addressing the public’s concerns.Conclusion:
“The Revolt of the Public” provides a compelling analysis of how the digital revolution has shifted the balance of power between the public and traditional authority. Gurri’s work is a cautionary tale about the challenges and opportunities of the information age, highlighting the need for new forms of governance and leadership to navigate this transformative era.
You were warned.
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Point 4 might end up being the reason Trumps actual presidential term is unremarkable historically in terms of its policy accomplishments, kind of like his last one.
@jon-nyc said in James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024:
Trumps actual presidential term is unremarkable historically
I would say that COVID which bloomed during his actual presidency was not unremarkable.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@jon-nyc said in James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024:
Trumps actual presidential term is unremarkable historically
I would say that COVID which bloomed during his actual presidency was not unremarkable.
I mentioned that part was historic, as was his attempt to steal the 2020 election, but those are negative. They’re not sending him to Rushmore, let alone a pantheon with Jesus Christ and Buddha.
Also I specifically said ‘in terms of policy accomplishments’ to prevent any misunderstanding.
The historic things about him are how he got there and how he left.
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Donald Trump has a good chance of being regarded as one of the most important and influential humans in the history of humans. Of course that history has yet to be written, but there's a reasonable chance. And of course people will differ, with some of us perpetually unable to give credit for effective social/political course correction as compared to the Obama and Biden regimes. Meanwhile, Carter had a good heart.
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Here’s a ChatGPT summary
Martin Gurri’s book, “The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium”, explores the profound impact of the digital information explosion on society, politics, and authority structures. Gurri, a former CIA analyst, argues that the advent of the internet and social media has upended traditional hierarchies of power by democratizing information and giving the public unprecedented tools to challenge institutions.
Key Themes and Arguments:
1. The Information Tsunami:
Gurri describes how the internet has unleashed a “tsunami” of information, overwhelming traditional gatekeepers like governments, media, and corporations. This abundance of information erodes trust in these institutions by exposing their flaws and contradictions.
2. The Revolt of the Public:
Empowered by digital tools, ordinary people can now organize, communicate, and express dissent on a massive scale. Movements like the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, and Brexit are examples of how the public uses this power to challenge authority.
3. Crisis of Authority:
Institutions built for the industrial age struggle to adapt to this new reality. They are designed to control the flow of information, but in the digital era, their authority is undermined by transparency and the public’s growing skepticism.
4. Anti-Establishment Sentiments:
Gurri notes that the public’s revolt is often defined by what it opposes rather than what it supports. These movements are characterized by their rejection of elites, institutions, and traditional hierarchies, but they rarely offer constructive alternatives.
5. Polarization and Fragmentation:
The digital age has not only democratized information but also fragmented it, creating echo chambers and amplifying ideological divisions. This contributes to a more chaotic and unpredictable public sphere.
6. Future of Governance:
Gurri warns that the current trajectory could lead to further instability unless institutions evolve to embrace transparency and engage meaningfully with the public. He calls for humility and adaptability from elites in addressing the public’s concerns.Conclusion:
“The Revolt of the Public” provides a compelling analysis of how the digital revolution has shifted the balance of power between the public and traditional authority. Gurri’s work is a cautionary tale about the challenges and opportunities of the information age, highlighting the need for new forms of governance and leadership to navigate this transformative era.
@jon-nyc said in James Earl Carter Jr, 1924-2024:
Here’s a ChatGPT summary
Martin Gurri’s book, “The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium”, explores the profound impact of the digital information explosion on society, politics, and authority structures. Gurri, a former CIA analyst, argues that the advent of the internet and social media has upended traditional hierarchies of power by democratizing information and giving the public unprecedented tools to challenge institutions.
Key Themes and Arguments:
- The Information Tsunami:
Gurri describes how the internet has unleashed a “tsunami” of information, overwhelming traditional gatekeepers like governments, media, and corporations. This abundance of information erodes trust in these institutions by exposing their flaws and contradictions. - The Revolt of the Public:
Empowered by digital tools, ordinary people can now organize, communicate, and express dissent on a massive scale. Movements like the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, and Brexit are examples of how the public uses this power to challenge authority. - Crisis of Authority:
Institutions built for the industrial age struggle to adapt to this new reality. They are designed to control the flow of information, but in the digital era, their authority is undermined by transparency and the public’s growing skepticism. - Anti-Establishment Sentiments:
Gurri notes that the public’s revolt is often defined by what it opposes rather than what it supports. These movements are characterized by their rejection of elites, institutions, and traditional hierarchies, but they rarely offer constructive alternatives. - Polarization and Fragmentation:
The digital age has not only democratized information but also fragmented it, creating echo chambers and amplifying ideological divisions. This contributes to a more chaotic and unpredictable public sphere. - Future of Governance:
Gurri warns that the current trajectory could lead to further instability unless institutions evolve to embrace transparency and engage meaningfully with the public. He calls for humility and adaptability from elites in addressing the public’s concerns.
Conclusion:
“The Revolt of the Public” provides a compelling analysis of how the digital revolution has shifted the balance of power between the public and traditional authority. Gurri’s work is a cautionary tale about the challenges and opportunities of the information age, highlighting the need for new forms of governance and leadership to navigate this transformative era.
I haven't read him, but it sounds like he's on the right track.
- The Information Tsunami:
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Biggest success 50 years later I’d say are the camp David accords. And the principals involved heavily credited him personally for their success.
Next was appointing Paul Volcker which ultimately ended inflation.
Third was the rather significant deregulation effort which included deregulation of airline prices. Remember how expensive it used to be to fly?
I think he and Ford deserve credit, now 50 years later, for the least popular things they did - pardon Nixon and the draft dodgers. Together those two acts helped turn the corner on one of the most contentious eras of American politics in the 20th century.
Those would be top of my list off my head.
Biggest failure would be the coup in Iran. I don’t know enough to speculate as to what he could have done differently to prevent it or reverse it, but it happened on his watch and was clearly the most enduring problem that arose during his term.
You were warned.
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Yes, he wasn't Mr. Nixon, that alone was a great success.
The events in Iran overshadowed everything in his final year. He wouldn't campaign until the hostages were released - they weren't released until after the election.
Our company had guys locked in an Iranian prison during that time. We sent some of our guys to bust them out, successfully. Some of you might remember the story of Desert One, Mr. Carter's failed rescue. It's hard to blame him, but he was the boss.
One of those embassy hostages lived here in the neighborhood, we played golf regularly until his death last year.
